One of the tangential thoughts I’ve seen a few times about this RealID thing is that people with unique names will be easier to stalk. Even though it’s not all that hard to track [RandomDude719], unique names make the heavy lifting easier.
So, I wandered over to HowManyofMe.com to see just how unique I am. Y’know, just in case. The Twitter, XBox Live and WordPress accounts may not cement my fame.
…or maybe I’m just looking for validation. Anyway…
Turns out I’m the only one of me. 309,633,291 people in the U.S. according to the site, and I’m the only one with my first and last name. In either order.
I’m a pretty, pretty snowflake.
Tish Tosh Tesh Flake
Too bad I’m already famous. Otherwise, I might be concerned.
OK, OK, Ysh, here’s the nondoily version:
Tish Tosh Tesh Nondoily Flake
That picture makes you look like a doily.
Apparently I am a unique snowflake too, whether I use my maiden name or my married name. That’s not what really worries me though, because a determined frothloony would find you even if your name was Jane Doe (of whom there are only 17, btw).
But hey. Snowflakitude. Good stuff. Now I don’t need to worry about having a personality!
First name: 834,559
Last name: 123
Combination: 1
Man there are 109 of my real names. :/ One is my dad though! (Not a junior, different middle names.)
According to that site I’m the only one of me too. I’ve only met 2 other people with my first name (and know of one other…extremely famous singer…with it).
Even if the site had a margin of error of +/- 4%, I still doubt that anyone else has the same name as me. I guess I’m a special snowflake too, yippee!
What really cracks me up is that there are people with the first or last name being “Longasc”!
Ah, but it’s a Tesh-flavored doily. (The outer perimeter is a row of those now-ancient Tesh symbols from way back.) I figured a little fun was in order from this whole kerfluffle.
Maybe I’m just tired of summer, though. Bring back the snow! Yay for being unique snowflakes!
…and wait, there’s a Longasc? Coool.
Now me on the other hand, there’s at least 5 people or more now on facebook with my exact first and last name, and a few with my pen-name (Thallian). Actually I kind of like not being a unique snowflake cuz then I have true anonymity. After all, if I am not unique you can’t tell with 100% certainty which one I really am, unless I tell you, can you?
Yeah, I see pros and cons for being a snowflake and being a clone. That said, I still want control over who knows my “real” name, but on the internet, I’ll settle for being a rockstar.
…or was that “insignificant nerd”? I always confuse the two.
203 of me in the USA. A fair few over here in the UK too.
Still don’t like RealID though.
You and me both, Stabs. I’m just… taking a day off for humor. Keeps me sane.
72 with my name combination.
However, there are also 23 people named “Donald Duck.” Thankfully, only one Bella Swan exists, but 88 Edward Cullens, so make sure you have a lot of sparkle repellant. Only 6 Clark Kents though so Superman might want to fear RealID too.
@ Thallian if someone is determined enough yes you can. People give away a lot of clues. If you say it’s raining that may eliminate two out of the three. If you mention what you do that can help narrow it down especially if you are in a career like academia or journalism where you publish online. People can track you down through your connections. If you are John Smith who is friends with [Unique Snowflake] well there may be only one person called John Smith in Unique Snowflake’s town.
On the F13 forums someone was sceptical about how easy it is to be found. Shortly after an internet detective PMed him his photo based on subtle clues he had provided during the course of talking about games with no obvious clues like name or school.
There are 1,749 people in the U.S. named Brian Green.
‘Course, that’s just an estimate according to the site. Not terribly surprising, I knew it was a pretty common name.
Oh dear, that “create-a-snowflake” site is quite the work distraction!
I wonder how big of a leap it would be to go from being the only person with your name in the US to the only person in the WORLD with your name. If so, then you’d also be the only person in the known UNIVERSE with your name!
I may not live in the US of A, but if I did, there are 14 other me’s around.
Interesting site. My own first name and last name both come from Irish Gaelic but nevertheless there are 14 of me in the USA which is actually considerably more than there are in Ireland itself. Just shows you what a history of emigration can do!
I think I’ve been killing too many White Mantle. Your non-doily somehow reminds me of War in Kryta. O.o
The site says there’s only one of me in the US too… which is kinda silly considering there about 10 people with my name in my city in the UK alone
I think it’s broke 
Or my name is incredibly Scottish and no one outside of here has it 